Classics in the North West.

[Jukebag]

I often wonder why there appears to be a lack of classic cars such as E-Types, Austin Healey's, Morgan's, Jensens, etc that are for sale in the North West, i.e Lancashire, Cheshire and Merseyside. One or two dealers selling but private sales seem to be very thin on the ground. I'm strictly talking about sales via the internet as most people probably look for a classic these days online.

Plenty of said cars in the south like Kent, Essex, Sussex, etc, but very few in the NW. Sites like car and classic, C&SC, Classiccarsforsale, ebay, and even classifieds sections within the owners club websites come up with very few cars for sale in the North West. There are plenty of E-Types and Morgan's around, but they seldom come up for sale. Of course the majority of them could go via the auction route.

Edited by Jukebag on Saturday 29th September 19:00

[51mes]

Had the same problem when looking for my MGB GT, very little up here and what there was from a dealer had a unwarranted premium. Some good and some very bad private cars about - usually over in yorkshire - a long trek from Cumbria. I ended up spending a couple of weekends away - Oxfordshire and Sussex - split between car hunting and time with Mrs 51mes.

Bought a lovely Aconite v8 from a dealer in Sussex.

S.

[Jukebag]

I agree there are some very bad private cars about considering the seller is wanting a ridiculous amount for the car; plenty of ads I see everyday through browsing through the classic sites of just bare chassis and the like. However, there are some cars that some dealers sell that are as equally as bad, even those who seem to have a good reputation. I've seen plenty of Triumph TRs from a TR "specialist" that show a completely rotted chassis (and yes they state it's a resto project), and they're asking for 5 grand.

But anyway, as I said there are plenty of Morgan's and E-Types around locally that I've seen at local meets etc (which surprised me actually as I didn't think they were that common), but you rarely see them for sale, private wise more than anything. Plenty of MGB roadsters and GTs for sale, as well as Spitfire's and other more affordable classics, but with the more pricey stuff you rarely see them. Morgan's are rarely seen sold privately, the majority via classic car traders or Morgan dealers.

I suppose they just want to keep hold of them for as long as possible because of their value.

[LE52 MOG]

Had my Morgan 16 years now, no intention of selling.
Most of the owners I know tend to hang on to them to enjoy them, those that do change tend to do it through Morgan dealerships.Even if pulling out of Morgan ownership they tend to sell them through a dealer on a commission basis.

[Jukebag]

I remember seeing a 2013 Morgan at Life's Motors in Southport for a whopping 80 grand. Just thought that was way OTT. That was the most priciest Morgan I've seen there.

[mikewood]

I'm just over the road from Lifes Motors (Morgan specialist) in Southport, and enjoy having a look in at the showroom every week or so. I often think their secondhand cars are cheaper than what I have seen advertised in the classifieds, but as with many specialist dealers, I know they are struggling to source stock. So maybe we northerners are happy to hold on to our classics, hence few offered for sale "locally"..?

MW